Effect of main stem pruning and fruit thinning on the postharvest conservation of melon

ABSTRACT Main stem pruning and fruit thinning are cultivation practices that can influence the yield and quality of the fruit. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of main stem pruning and fruit thinning on the postharvest conservation of Charentais Banzai melons. In the field, the plants were subjected to main stem pruning and fruit thinning, with harvesting done 74 days after sowing (DAS). The fruits were transported to the laboratory where they were cleaned, characterized, and stored in a cold chamber (5 °C and 90 ± 2% RH). In the field, the experiment was designed as a split-plot using a 2 × 4 + 1 factorial design, with two levels of main stem pruning (pruned and unpruned), four levels of thinning times (42, 45, 48, and 51 DAS), and a control (unpruned and unthinned). The sub-plot consisted of storage times (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days), with four blocks. The preharvest treatments did not significantly influence the production characteristics of the Banzai hybrid. The treatment without pruning increased the titratable acidity of fruit, and the thinning at 51 days after sowing (DAS) reduced soluble sugars. There was a decline in pulp firmness, titratable acidity, reducing sugars, and an increase in soluble solids, total soluble sugar, and non-reducing sugars during storage. Pruning the main melon stem reduced the weight loss of the fruit after 28 days of storage. RESUMO A poda da haste principal e o raleio de frutos são práticas culturais que podem influenciar a produtividade e a qualidade dos frutos produzidos. Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a influência da poda da haste principal e do raleio dos frutos na qualidade e conservação pós-colheita de melão Charentais ‘Banzai’. Em campo, as plantas foram submetidas à poda da haste principal e ao raleio dos frutos, com a colheita ocorrendo aos 74 dias após a semeadura (DAS). Os frutos foram levados para o laboratório, onde foram higienizados, caracterizados e armazenados em câmara fria (5 °C e 90 ± 2% UR). Na fase de campo, o experimento foi realizado em parcelas subdivididas utilizando um esquema fatorial 2 × 4 + 1, com dois níveis de poda da haste principal (podada e não podada), quatro níveis de tempo de desbaste (42, 45, 48, e 51 DAS) e um controle (sem poda e sem raleio); enquanto a sub-parcela consistiu de tempos de armazenamento (0, 7, 14, 21, e 28 dias), com quatro blocos. Os tratamentos pré-colheita não influenciaram significativamente as características de produção do híbrido Banzai. O trat